Well, I guess salt really is bad for you, if this
fellow is any evidence! You've surely heard of mummies in
Egypt, and probably about ice-mummies in Austria (or was it
Italy…?), but salt-mummies in Iran? This is the
head of a mummy found in a salt mine, preserved by dessication
by the ambient salt. Besides the head in this bell jar, there's
a boot with the remains of a leg protruding and artefacts
found along with the body, all in a climate-controlled case
in the Tehran Archælogical Museum; each item kept dry by its own
supply of silica gel. A complete paleopathological work-up of
these remains has been done and is documented in extensive
detail in a panel adjacent to the case. Unfortunately,
the museum closed seconds after I took this picture and I
didn't have an opportunity to note the details.